Sanders, Wood post MMA victories in Lewiston card

February 13, 2012 8:42 pmUpdated: April 6, 2012 12:40 pm

LEWISTON, Maine — Ryan Sanders of Veazie remained undefeated in his professional mixed martial arts career with a victory during the Fight Night 1 card held before a crowd of 3,100 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on Saturday night.

Sanders, improved his record to 3-0 with a first-round victory over veteran Dan “The Ghost” Keefe in the co-main event.

Two other fighters competing out of Young’s MMA gym in Brewer participated in amateur bouts, with Ray “All Business” Wood of Bucksport earning a first-round technical knockout victory over Ashan Abdulla and Zackary Adams of Bangor losing in the first round to Jason Libby.

Keefe (7-3) had the early advantage over Sanders in their welterweight (170-pound) bout, but Sanders then locked an arm bar against his opponent from the bottom position and forced Keefe to tap out at 4:40 of the five-minute first round.

Abdulla, a late replacement to face Wood after three other potential opponents bowed out due to injury, twice had the former Bucksport High School wrestler in a choke hold, only to have Wood free himself both times. He followed that second escape with an attack on Abdulla that prompted the bout to be halted at 2:29 of the first round of their 155-pound bout.

Wood is now 4-0 and currently is ranked fourth among New England featherweights (145 pounds). Abdulla fell to 3-3.

Adams fell victim to a quick knockdown punch from Libby in his MMA debut, with Libby then going on the attack to close out the victory in the opening round of their 155-pound bout. Libby is now 3-1.